computer forensics professionals can earn over USD 100,000 a year on average
What Is Computer Forensics: Learn to Become a Cyber Forensics Expert Today ?
The word “forensics” conjures up images of police procedural dramas on television, where detectives, crime scene investigators, and coroners piece together evidence and nab the criminal before the closing credits.
Computer forensics, also called cyber forensics or cyber security forensics, is an increasingly important tool in today’s legal world. Anyone who wants to be a well-rounded cyber security expert should master this field, and this article gives you an introduction to this fascinating discipline.
What Is Computer Forensics?
The United States’ Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) defines computer forensics as “the discipline that combines elements of law and computer science to collect and analyze data from computer systems, networks, wireless communications, and storage devices in a way that is admissible as evidence in a court of law.”
Since forensics by itself is defined as scientific tests and techniques used to detect and solve crimes, you can see where the worlds of science, law enforcement, and computers neatly intersect. When we consider the ever-increasing incidences of cybercrime, it’s unsurprising that computer forensics is garnering increased interest and attention.
In simple, real-life terms, computer forensics is the digital version of a long-respected procedure for solving computer-related crimes.
Why Is Computer Forensics Important?
We have already touched on how the online world has infringed upon a growing amount of our personal lives. Since not everyone is a friendly, law-abiding person, it's fair to say that criminal behavior also ends up online more often. Because digital evidence-gathering is handled differently from physical “real-world” evidence, we need a field of study specializing in finding, gathering, and analyzing digital evidence.
Also, by analyzing information linked to cyber-based crimes, digital forensics specialists help cyber security and IT professionals create better defenses for systems and data. Think of it as an example of learning from one’s mistakes.
Digital evidence is also increasingly being used in criminal court cases, including offenses like fraud or possessing child pornography. The best way to collect evidence of people’s activities is to go where they are, and more people are online every day.
So here we see yet another example of how technological advantages and shifting human behavior creates changes in real-world professions and demands that they evolve with the times.
What Is Computer Forensics Used For?
Alright, so we now know why we need computer forensics, but what are its specific uses? Here are some usage examples that demonstrate the value of this discipline:
Data Discovery
Computer forensics professionals help law enforcement uncover important data from seized devices such as laptops or cell phones. This information can help prosecute both digital and “real world” crimes.
Damage Remediation
Computer forensics analyzes data breaches and network attacks to understand the severity and extent of the incident's damage. By getting a clearer picture of what happened and what was affected, organizations can keep using the unaffected data, rather than just shutting everything down.
Hacker Tracking
Private computer forensics companies help businesses track down hackers, uncovering the sources of the attacks, and aiding in identifying the guilty parties.
Network Security
Computer forensics also helps beef up network security and defend private servers, preventing those hacker attacks in the first place. Forensic tools inspect packet data, help organizations isolate suspicious activities, identify hackers and their methods, and design the best defenses against these threats.
Testing Tools
The National Institute for Standards and Technology devised forensic tools for making copies of pertinent evidence from seized devices. These computer forensic tools serve as trial runs to make sure that data copying happens successfully.
